Honoring Mentors

Every artist follows their own unique journey, but mine has never been solitary. Along the way, I’ve been guided by mentors—artists and advocates whose influence helped me find both direction and belief in my work. Their support, wisdom, and willingness to see something in me before I fully saw it myself shaped the photographer I’ve become. I spoke about this recently at the Winter Women’s Photography Conference in Estes Park.

My first mentor was Suzanne Camp Crosby, a talented film photographer and educator who introduced me to Kodak’s HIE infrared film in the late 1990s. Studying under her in Florida, I began to understand photography not just as a skill, but as a deeply personal language. Suzanne encouraged risk, experimentation, and emotional honesty—values that still ground my work today. That introduction to infrared opened a door that would never close. She passed away a few years ago, and I miss her dearly.

Years later, frustrated by the lack of clear resources on infrared post-processing, I reached out to Laurie Klein, a renowned infrared photographer and teacher. I still remember that phone call in 2015—her generosity and candor helped me break through a technical wall at a time when very little information on processing IR was available. Laurie once said:

“Infrared wasn’t popular. Infrared was just a gimmick. Nobody understood it… You couldn’t do infrared back then unless you really dedicated yourself to it.”

That truth resonates with me deeply. Her words validated the commitment I had already made—and encouraged me to go further. We remain close friends and still chat regularly.

Scott Wilson, a conservation photographer known for his work under the Instagram handle, Photo Advocacy, came into my life just when I needed someone to champion my vision. His encouragement pushed me to take my work seriously

—and to share it boldly. Thanks to his support, I was included in the Imprint exhibit at Gallery 6 during Denver’s 2023 Month of Photography. Later, I became a resident artist at Gallery 6 in the Art District, gaining the opportunity to share my work with a much wider audience. Scott hasn’t just advocated for my photography—he’s taught me that photography can be both a personal expression and a force for change, something that has stayed with me in recent months.

And then there’s John Barclay, who discovered my work on Instagram when I was just beginning to post infrared images. He followed me, and offered encouragement, at a time when I was still unsure of my place in the public space of social media. Through his workshops and generous support, John introduced me to a wider community of photographers and has shared my work in meaningful ways. His belief in connection and collaboration has made a lasting impact on me.

Each of these mentors offered something unique—technical guidance, artistic perspective, visibility, or belief. And each helped me feel seen, not just as a photographer, but as an artist.

Their presence reminds me that art is never created in isolation—it grows through conversation, in community, and in the quiet support of those who’ve walked the path before us.